Geico Caveman Roundup
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With a healthy round of brand new Geico caveman spots out, it’s about time for an official Caveman Update. This comment thread is a pretty good testament to the fact that the original three Geico caveman spots were very well loved.
Comment // November 5th, 2006 // 7:40 pm
These cavemen commercials are the funniest commercials ever made seriously. I do not not know why it is posted on this website as an awful commercial. To me that just nonsense. I understand that what I think does not matter but who cares. These commercials are a perfect ten in my book.
Comment // November 6th, 2006 // 9:56 pm
I LOVE these commercials. The dinner apology version is STILL funny to watch even after a year! The Fox news parody is even BETTER! I hope they keep these coming sporadically over the years and not go overboard with a good thing.
Comment // November 7th, 2006 // 5:09 am
thank you brothers and sisters, i too love these things and have said the exact same things before. so why am i posting this, i dont know. maybe someone clubbed me in the head or ran me over with a square wheel!!??!!??
J
Comment // November 7th, 2006 // 12:55 pm
You’ve got to be kidding me. These caveman commercials SUCK!
They are so stupid that they actually lower the watcher’s I.Q. to that of a caveman.
If you want FUNNY Geico commercials, the one with Peter Graves doing the “Celebrity Voice” for the woman who’s husband wrecker their SUV is the one.
Comment // November 14th, 2006 // 2:52 am
The Cave Men Commercials by GEICO are Hilarious! I was hooked on the first viewing. The Cave Man’s reactions are priceless.
He’s constantly got a atti”tude”…DUDE is Hilarious.
When he orders the roast duck and mango, I almost fell off the chair. The Airport is so funny, you know that cave man poster just totally ruined Cave-dudes day!!!!
Comment // November 16th, 2006 // 12:46 pm
As someone long involved in the mass media, both in advertising and broadcasting (mostly public TV), the aspect of the “Caveman” campaign that truly resonates with me is not the quality with which the spots are performed and produced (the comic timing, from both the actors and the editors, is impeccable). It is the heretofor unexplored social commentary.
The Cavemen are poster children for our nation’s victimization industry. The lead character (perhaps the “spokescaveman” for the entire Cavemen Anti-Defamation League) has the perfect combination of passive-aggressiveness and thinly veiled contempt for those who have ‘wronged’ the people he claims to represent. The banality of the original offending ‘ad’, leading to the stammering corporate apology over dinner at an expensive restaurant – which you KNEW from the first time you saw it that the “I’m not hungry” reponse indicated that the apology wasn’t going to cut it – is simply brilliant satire. Subsequent ads have continued to play up the absurdity of the situation, at the same time drawing on the viewers’ recognition of simlar cases of this type of ‘discrimination’ against non-fictitious groups (someone mentioned the Taco Bell chihuahua earlier – did you forget why those ads were ultimately pulled?)
I applaud The Martin Agency, who created the campaign, not only on the effectiveness of the ads in appealing to their demographic target, but for their incisive social satire. If only there were TV programs or movies that had this level of wit and subtlety .
Comment // November 17th, 2006 // 4:02 pm
The unused footage from the airport refered to in the article is from yet another commercial out. I seen it a few nights ago and Tivo’d it. It actually is a 2 parter that starts with the old squirrel ad. When that ends it shows a few second blip of him standing at the airport on his phone and says “I’m looking at it…”. I have only seen it once so far.
Its rumored that the Trailer is only and ad made for Youtube, but who knows.
Comment // November 25th, 2006 // 6:36 pm
I have a bunch of comments to make.
First, I absolutely love all 5 of the caveman commercials. During the long gap after #3 came out I got worried that they weren’t going to make another, but they did.
Got a question though. Which came out first, the airport ad or the interview ad? I think the airport ad came out first but I’m not sure. Anyone?
I also like the ads that say “I’ve got good news. I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to Geico”, especially the one with Speed Racer. That was cool that they brought him back.
Also, the celebrity ads are really funny. I particularly like the one with Peter Graves and the one with “that announcer guy from the movies”. They really make me laugh.
Also, I like the one with the gecko and the Chihuahua dog (he says “Oh no. A talking gecko”. So cool.
By the way, he is a gecko, not a geico, as karen said on
September 9th, 2006 at 2:22 pm:
“Get rid of your staff who do these stupid commercials…and
Sell the Geico…as your logo…market him in merchanise ..
hats …key chains…toys ..tee shirts…..My graddaughter would love a Geico…”, etc., etc.
By the way, that 1 minute trilogy above has been removed from Youtube for terms of service violations.
Thanks,
Barry
Comment // November 25th, 2006 // 7:04 pm
Hello,
While I’m thinking about it, does anyone know where I can download (or at least watch online) the Geico commercial that features the Chihuahua and gecko together? The Chihuahua dog says “Oh no. A talking Gecko.” I love that one.
Thanks
Comment // November 26th, 2006 // 5:29 am
As for the therapist one…
At first I didn’t really get why he says “I’ll put her on speaker…” My first idea was that he kinda wanted to include his mother in the session, but the more I thought about his whole head-down, child-like body language, he’s trying to be subservient and accommodating to the therapist. Trying to include the therapist in his conversation, to be polite. These ad’s are absolutely brilliant. I disagree with something else I’ve read elsewhere though. That they’re serving as a pressure relief valve for the natural backlash against racism.
Well, Black and Native American peoples have every right to be pissed off. But since we’re mocking the indignation of an imaginary minority, cavemen, they can get away with it. In other words, these ad’s are kind-of making fun of the perfectly well deserved resentment of minority groups that have traditionally suffered at the hands of the majority. In that respect, they’re actually insulting to real minorities. But as an old country song goes, “everybody needs someone else, to look down on…”, so I’ll bet even Blacks and NativeAmericans find these ad’s funny.
They’re just too damned funny, on so many levels. So well done, from idea to execution.
Comment // December 2nd, 2006 // 12:51 am
Yeah as a black person I think the spots are great and funny. I feel for the caveman sometimes and laugh when he gets that “You gotta be kidding me look” on his face, because the “racism” is so blatant to him, but no one else can see it and I’ve actually been there before. I hardly ever read into the commercials like that and I just enjoy them because they are good.
Comment // December 4th, 2006 // 1:43 am
The GEICO caveman ads are stupid and offensive, they force me to change the channel as well as search for a new auto insurance carrier.
Pseudo intellectual ads like these are poor substitutes for those that are truly clever and informative.
Comment // December 4th, 2006 // 3:56 pm
how in the hell are these commericals offensive IF YOU’RE NOT A CAVEMAN?
seriously, people, it’s a commercial .. does everyone gett ‘offended’ over everything?
Please.
Comment // December 9th, 2006 // 4:43 am
These guys are Great!
They need to come out with a Movie!!!!
Comment // December 11th, 2006 // 8:37 pm
Are any of you people actually serious about changing from Geico to another company ? Surely you are not that disturbed.Surely you most have more going for you in your life than to be bothered by this. Geico has great rates and to leave them because of that is totally CRAZY and down right NUTS. The commercials are great, they do what commercials are designed to do, they get the attention of the person watching.
More power to Geico and Im just glad there are a few stupid cavemen still around to bash.
Comment // December 12th, 2006 // 9:16 pm
Well, we now know the trailer is partially official; the yellow couch doesn’t appear in a Geico ad until the therapist session. Nice find!
Comment // December 20th, 2006 // 9:06 pm
i love those commercials! geico better buy some spots on the superbowl
Comment // December 21st, 2006 // 2:35 am
I come from an ad family, meaning my mom is in advertising, as was my grandpa. I used to watch my mom write jingles and draw storyboards for commercials. I love a good, wacked-out commercial.
Geico has a weird ad history in that some spots are brilliant and others are painful. ALL the gecko ads are terrible. ALL the caveman ads are hilarious! The one “celebrity voice” ad which was brilliant was the one with Don LaFontaine, “that announcer guy from the movies.” But I think my favorite is the one where a dorky-looking guy has a “crash” with a deer…while on foot!
Comment // December 25th, 2006 // 2:51 am
HAHAHA People are way too serious. These Caveman Commercials are the best! If you find them offensive you need to loosen the tie around your neck. You are probably the type of person your neighbors regret having you living next to them. I hope they keep these up. They are entertaining.
Comment // January 4th, 2007 // 12:39 am
These commercials are oure genius!
Comment // January 17th, 2007 // 8:53 pm
Did Anybody Notice (1)THERAPIST AD: After the caveman grimaces when noting that she doesn’t find the add belittling because “therapists are smart” he demonstrates that he’s smarter than most folks who still either don’t have a cell phone, fumble when answering one or have no idea how to navigate the speaker phone. (2) AIRPORT AD – take a closer look – the caveman is still waaayyyy behind the times – he’s carrying a wooden tennis racket!!!
Comment // January 18th, 2007 // 1:07 pm
As a few people have pointed out, that is probably a squash racquet not a tennis racket.
Comment // January 19th, 2007 // 4:11 pm
Caveman commercials, other than the intellectual nuance on todays social commentary of racism i agree… Its a commercial First that is utterly genius. Its funny its shocking and its very hip. i look forward to everyone and hope it continues to grow…Oh and yes, Caveman the movie? I would laugh and laugh… im sure it would be better than a WAYANS movie!
Comment // January 20th, 2007 // 1:41 am
My wife and I just love the Cavemean commercials. We can’t wait for the next new ones. Can you tell the name of the Actress playing the Therapist. I say it’s the same woman that played Rocky Balboas wife in the Rocky movies. I believe her name is Talia Shiere. My wife says I’M nuts, Help settle this will you. Keep the good ones coming.
Comment // January 24th, 2007 // 3:30 am
Dear Geico,
I love the cavemen commercials but please DO NOT make a movie of them! The characters and the story just won’t carry well into a 90 minute movie. Hollywood will probably concoct some lame, predictable plot and screenplay poorly written by some La-La Land schmuck who thinks he has talent. Hollywood sucks – they probably wouldn’t even use the original actors; they’d probably pay $40 million to Tom Cruise to play one caveman, Will Smith to play the other, introduce Jessica Simpson as a cavewoman-love interest for Tom’s character (“you had me at shalom”), and add some cutesy boy caveman as their love child, probably played by Vernon the midget actor from the Austin Powers series. Trust me, Hollywood would mess it all up that way and the movie would suck. DON’T DO IT GEICO – just keep the cavemen as little treasures we get to enjoy every now and then as surprises while we veg in front of our ubiquitous plasma flat-screen TVs…
Comment // January 31st, 2007 // 7:27 am
Thats my mother…I’ll put her on speaker….
Comment // January 31st, 2007 // 11:09 am
I don’t think I’ve ever hated any commercials more than I do the caveman adds. They just suck and every time one comes on. I Mute it or change the channel.
The Lizzard is cool, but then I’m from Arizona. Bring the Lizzared back!!!!
Comment // February 2nd, 2007 // 1:22 am
These are the funniest, most clever commercials I have ever seen. Social commentary that is so pure that even a cavemen could get it!
Comment // February 4th, 2007 // 4:47 pm
Love the Caveman commercials! Seen the golfing ones today! Can’t wait to see more!
Comment // February 5th, 2007 // 12:07 pm
I have all the golfing clips and will get them online this week.
Comment // February 9th, 2007 // 2:49 pm
Geico Cavemen RULE! The gecko is getting stupid though :( he used to be funny until they turned him into a pseudointellectual.
Comment // February 9th, 2007 // 2:51 pm
Who could be offended by these commercials?? Please tell me you aren’t that nuts? This PC movement needs to END like YESTERDAY!
Comment // February 15th, 2007 // 4:46 pm
I just hope they make a mivie built around the cavemen….it would be hilarious
Comment // February 21st, 2007 // 2:35 am
It is HILARIOUS that people hate these commercials enough to leave a comment here. Um, there is a war going on! Please redirect your anger to lying politicians.
For the rest of us, enjoying a little healthy distraction and not getting sucked into the void of misdirected hatred and anger, well, we can appreciate the subtle wit and social commentary of these commercials. Right?
Only a couple people have mentioned racism…do we not all get that these commercials are not just about victimization generally, but about how we define and perceive people of other races? How we use them for our own benefit (think Flava Flav and New York)? I think these commercials are definitely for intellectuals, whatever the heck that means. If David thinks these are pseudo-intellectual commercials, then I wonder what a “real” intellectual commercial looks like?
I personally think that a commercial referencing racism, prejudice, victimization, stereotypes, and appearances while being funny (even without words at times) is brilliant! We need more advertising like this!
Comment // February 27th, 2007 // 6:57 pm
Check out Awful Commercial’s new Cavemen FAQ (with new video) http://www.awfulcommercials.com/archives/2007/02/27/geico-cavemen-faq-and-definitive-video-post/
Comment // February 28th, 2007 // 12:25 am
Hey Editor, thanks for putting that all together and posting it. Thoroughly enjoy watching it!
Comment // March 3rd, 2007 // 2:49 am
HAHAH i love these commericals lol there should be more made lol
Comment // March 5th, 2007 // 10:39 pm
WHO PLAYED THR “THERAPIST” IN THE GEICO CAVEMAN COMERCIALS
Comment // March 6th, 2007 // 3:52 pm
The caveman ads are hilarious! Pure genius! I hardly ever watch TV, and on the rare occasion that I do, I mute the commercials…except for the caveman ads. When those come on, I still watch and I crack up! When ever one of them comes on, I call my wife into the room (or vice versa) so we can both have a good laugh. The humor is so simple and subtle that they don’t get old; they are just as funny every time I see them.
On a different note…
Regarding one the comment above that says, “[the caveman] demonstrates that he’s smarter than most folks who…don’t have a cell phone”:
While I agree that the therapist commercial is funny and very well done, your comment is asinine. Possession (or lack thereof) of a cell phone has no correlation whatsoever to one’s intelligence. Because I prefer not to throw my money away on something unwanted and unnecessary, specifically a cell phone (or as I like to call it: an “electronic leash”), I’m somehow less intelligent? Ha ha, please! Sorry but some of us have no need or desire to own a cell phone. Thanks to your comment, I can now truly empathize with the poor cavemen. In fact, I think you owe me a dinner at a fancy restaurant with roast duck on the menu! :P
Comment // March 6th, 2007 // 4:42 pm
Huge fan of Caveman, Would like to Know His ( REAL ) Name and if he plans on comming back to AZ. in the near Future. —- I An’t got long left in these OLD Bones.
Consider Dinner at my Home.
Marvin
Comment // March 6th, 2007 // 11:22 pm
I do not believe anyone on this site has posted this link yet.
Check this out: Cave Mens Crib. Give it a few moments to load it’s great.
When you get inside their crib pass your mouse over the walls and furniture…then click where you can.
Have a great time.
MORE CAVE MEN!
http://www.cavemanscrib.com/
Comment // March 15th, 2007 // 3:12 am
I have never given a s**t about television ads, let alone write a comment about them, but I gotta say I love the cavemen! I know what my Haloween costume is gonna be!
I also loved the ambient backround soundtrack in the airport ad. I was suprised to learn that it was done by Royksopp. If you listen to Sirius Satellite radio channel 33, you will hear a lot from Royksopp.
Comment // March 20th, 2007 // 4:17 am
Those ads are funny
Comment // March 20th, 2007 // 11:41 pm
I hate the caveman commercials. The caveman is miserable and ugly. How can you laugh at him trying to be funny?
He is pathetic.
Annoying.
Comment // March 22nd, 2007 // 2:10 am
they’re actually gonna make a tv show about them for abc. it’s gonna be awesome.
Comment // March 22nd, 2007 // 8:23 pm
i love the airport commercial. it is genius. whoever thought it up deserves a reward.
Comment // March 24th, 2007 // 12:09 am
Looks like the editor woke up on the wrong side of the rock.
Comment // March 24th, 2007 // 6:17 pm
It’s great fun and a learning experience to read all the comments – Pro and Con; many thanks to all contributors! I find the ads nuanced, positive, optimistic, and immensely entertaining. With only a few characters and scenes, the copywriters have created a world richer and more interesting to watch than many productions with much longer formats ( movies, TV shows, etc.). If the same effort and talent goes into a sitcom or mini-series, here’s betting that it will be a “must-see.” Actually, a little research in the midst of this writing turned up an interview in Esquire wherein it’s revealed that the copywriter is doing the script for a half-hour show – a good sign.
The ads also invoke a Rorshcach inkblot’s worth of responses open to wildly different interpretations depending on an individual’s POV. Some see an indictment of a society gone PC crazy, while personally, I see a reflection of the genuine frustration and bewilderment of those who are marginalized in oh-so-subtle (and outright unsubtle) ways.
These ads are little works of art with plenty of room for plot development. I’m looking forward to further developments…
Comment // April 6th, 2007 // 11:54 pm
to John R.
Yes, the therapist is Talia Shiere. You win that bet.
Comment // April 29th, 2007 // 7:40 pm
I think they should make an ad where Brent Lane is sitting on his couch making out with his cousin, and there’s a TV commercial and some guy comes on and says “So easy even Brent Lane could understand it” and Brent Lane says “heh heh, they got that right, didn’t they Homer?”
And nobody stands up for Brent Lane because they’ve all come to believe that there is a victimization industry that makes things hard for nice white people who never hurt nobody.
Comment // June 6th, 2007 // 3:18 pm
The caveman who lost his appetite and didn’t want to order dinner (one of the first commercials aired) is my choice of “who would I most like to meet.” I told my husband, I think the caveman is hot — !! My husband thinks it’s funny. (I’m serious!).
Comment // June 13th, 2007 // 9:57 pm
The caveman ads are hilarious! Pure genius!
Comment // July 15th, 2007 // 1:45 am
I really hate those idiot geico caveman commercials. I change the channel whenever I see one come on.
Comment // July 26th, 2007 // 4:43 am
really, folks, we’re talking about commercials. who knows whether people really use these ads to buy insurance (or any other product for that matter). the job is being done – they’re getting your attention – whether you like it or not. the thought of trying or wanting to read in racism, intellect (or lack thereof), etc. is quite asinine, but go ahead and knock yourself out. the commercials provide entertainment value and i’m guessing you’ve bigger problems if you can’t have a simple laugh. lighten up, frances.
Comment // August 9th, 2007 // 7:17 am
these commercials are a lot better than most of the retarded commercials on tv.
Comment // August 14th, 2007 // 1:11 pm
I wanted to ask JR had he knew so definitively that Talia Shire is the therapist in the Geici ads.
Comment // August 14th, 2007 // 1:14 pm
Beg your pardon. That’ll teach me not to proof read my postings….I meant to ask JC about the Geico ads
Comment // August 14th, 2007 // 4:17 pm
Sandrine, I don’t know what is so confusing, all the comments are still here in this thread: http://www.awfulcommercials.com/archives/2005/12/04/geico-cavemen/
The only comments POTENTIALLY affected were those made while we were moving the database (maybe one or two at most).
Comment // August 15th, 2007 // 10:23 am
The caveman commercials are best for a pee break. Unfortunately I don’t need to pee that often
Comment // August 22nd, 2007 // 1:29 pm
I had trouble finding my own post, the one just above, (#61)!!
There seem to be too many caveman links….I clicked on the link you posted above and there were 17 comments still there…
Well, I’m feeling better that we can still read and post our cavemen comments here. I still can’t believe how panicky I felt when I thought I couldn’t access cavemanscrib (One) anymore…imagine never again being able to select the caveman’s outfit and see his expressions as he says “What? Does this look sexy to you?” or “You know…you’re not going to get anything out of this…” Those moments can get me through a bad day at work!
Comment // August 22nd, 2007 // 3:12 pm
The multitude of caveman conversations is one of the reasons I’m working to get a forum up on awful commercials.
Comment // October 17th, 2007 // 1:14 pm
heyy. i think that you should have better quality commercials and ya thats pretty much it.
Comment // December 31st, 2007 // 5:28 pm
yeah these commercials are real stupid and offensive. I know that alot of people have defended these ads for their utter advertising brilliance, humor mixed with hints of sarcasim is over the heads of some. I’m not in the least surprised to be reminded once again that some people incapable of enjoying a good joke. I get a great kick when I see these commercials on the TV and they always seem to cheer me up. These ads are so smart that they belong in the advertising hall of fame. I would hate to see what kind of commercials these pinheads would like.
Comment // January 26th, 2008 // 12:51 am
Whether they suck or not, you’re talking about them. GEICO is at the forefront of the conversation, and that’s the whole point. Publicity is publicity whether positive or negative. I would say the ad campaign is a success based on the discussion here.
Comment // February 18th, 2008 // 4:20 pm
FEB. 18, 2008
i’M SO EMOTIONALLY INVOLVED WITH THOSE CAVEMEN…..
the other day, I had my back to the TV and I heard “a caveman voice” or content and it made me quickly turn to look—-it was a NEW caveman commercial; two cavemen sitting in an apartment, commenting ” hey, they’ve got a show about us…buy what is with that cheap makeup? Why didn’t they just use real cavemen? And the other replies that he liked that the “diction was good, I could understand every word..” and they just look at each other and then comment well, at least they didn’t say “so easy a caveman….” I can’t tell you how excited I was to see it!!! I just bought some more cavemen stuff from the Geico website store…..I’m waiting for them to make a DVD available with ALL of the commericals on it, plus extras etc. And I want one of those blue cavemen t shirts also, but they are on back order. And I miss all the cavemen chatter on this site!
Comment // May 7th, 2008 // 3:52 am
okay the caveman and all of the compliments given above to them 10x over!!!!! they F*&)%ING RULE and they so did not give their show a chance. I unfortunately was only able to see like 2 1/2 shows, but the charcters were well developed in a short amount of time and that ignorant real estate lady….the one one time she said she couldn’t tell them apart and asked if one could wear a small braid or something like like so she could have something to distinguish them apart from each other, and then there was the slacker guy who got called in to substitute teach and he was talking to the students using a sort of Bill Murrary schtick….like his character in Meatballs….and that morning he had to get a ride from his responible, neat roommate who asked him to finish eating his granola bar before entering the car and when he sat down he blew all of the contents left into his mouth onto the dash board….I am laughing about it as I write this moment…..and the commercial the last entry mentions is too funny,,,,,I love the one guys whiney voice when he says, “I know, why didn’t they just use regular cavemen?” or the more recent commercial when they explain all the sophisticated dance moves including “anything with jazz hands” COME ON PEOPLE THAT IS F-ING HILARIOUS Gieco Cavemen For President 2008!